Police hold 40 fans after Burnley-Blackburn derby

British police were on Monday questioning 40 football fans following disorder at the east Lancashire derby between bitter local rivals Burnley and Blackburn.

Lancashire police launched a major operation to prevent trouble breaking out following Sunday’s English Premier League clash at Turf Moor in Burnley, northwest England.

“Unfortunately we have had to deal with some disorder inside and outside the ground,” said senior police officer Terry Woods.

He said police used an intelligence database as part of the operation to make a number of pro-active arrests as a preventative measure against further disorder within specific groups.

“I would like to point out that the vast majority of fans have behaved appropriately,” he added. “Unfortunately, a minority have chosen not to behave in the same way which has led to a number of arrests.”

Blackburn Rovers beat Burnley 1-0 on Sunday thanks to a disputed penalty, in the first top-division clash between the two at Turf Moor since 1965.

The result left Burnley in the relegation zone, 19th in the Premier League table, while Blackburn rose to 10th.